Ferguson awaiting Obama call

FERGIE FURY:Alex Ferguson was defiant following criticism, accusing Alan Pardew of hypocrisy and saying the Newcastle manager was only in charge of ‘a wee club’

AP, LONDON

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, right, shouts at assistant referee Jake Collin during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United on Wednesday at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Photo: AFP

Facing criticism once again from the media and fellow Premier League managers, Alex Ferguson was half-expecting a reaction from the US president too.

The volatile Manchester United manager has not been short of influential critics following his latest outburst at a referee.

This time, he would not have been surprised if it had even reached the ears of the White House.

“The press have had a field day out of it,” Ferguson said of the discussion about his behavior. “They have addressed every possible avenue. The only one they have left out is [US President] Barack Obama. He is too busy.”

It is hardly comparable to the “fiscal cliff” deadline currently occupying Obama, but the Premier League’s main talking point over the festive period has been the outspokenness of English soccer’s longest-serving manager.

Days after claiming one of his players could have been “killed” by an opponent, the 70-year-old Ferguson delivered another rant on Friday while defending himself for approaching match officials during a league match against Newcastle.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said on Thursday he was surprised to see Ferguson escape punishment for confronting referee Mike Dean, a linesman and the fourth official during United’s 4-3 win at Old Trafford, after the visitors had been awarded a dubious goal.

It prompted an angry response.

“I carry that because I am the manager of the most famous club in the world,” Ferguson said. “I am not like Newcastle, a wee club in the northeast.”

Ferguson claims he was “demonstrative but ... not out of order” and accused Pardew of hypocrisy, with the Newcastle manager having served a two-match touchline ban this season for pushing an assistant referee during a league match.

“Alan Pardew is the worst at haranguing referees,” Ferguson said. “His whole staff, every game. He was at it the whole game on Wednesday.”

“He shoves the referee and makes a joke of it and has the cheek to criticize me. It is unbelievable,” the Scot said.

Some believe Ferguson benefits from favorable treatment from authorities, yet the United manager did serve a five-match touchline ban following criticism of referee Martin Atkinson after a league match against Chelsea last season. He also was handed a suspended two-match ban that season for accusing another referee — Alan Wiley — of being physically unfit to referee a Premier League game.

In this latest incident, Ferguson was furious that Dean overruled a linesman’s decision and awarded a goal to Newcastle when United defender Jonny Evans turned the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear a shot. Newcastle striker Papiss Demba Cisse was standing in an offside position when the shot was struck and was close to Evans when the ball was deflected in, but was not seen to be interfering with play according to Dean.

Dean decided not to mention his confrontation with Ferguson in his referee’s match report.

However, Ferguson said: “It has been overplayed. I was not on the pitch for more than three or four yards and then we came off together. There was no ranting or raving from me. I was demonstrative. I am always demonstrative. Everyone knows that. I am an emotional guy. That doesn’t mean to say I was abusive.”